Airlines Announced New Routes Using The Boeing 777-300ER

New Routes Using The Boeing 777-300ER

In an earlier post, Experience The Skies introduced the Boeing 777-300ER (refer to link). In this next part of the series, we will explore which airlines are introducing new destinations using this aircraft over the past month.

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines (TK) based out of Istanbul, Turkey announced it will launch a new route from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) using a couple of the 12 777-300ERs it has received. The new route will begin with a five times weekly schedule starting on April 13, 2015. San Francisco is the airline’s seventh US destination (the others are Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC and Boston) and will be the longest route operated by Turkish Airlines. The current longest route is Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) at 12h30m (westbound).

New Routes using Boeing 777-300ER – Turkish Airlines (Istanbul to San Francisco) – Information taken from the airline’s website. Infographic created by Experience The Skies – March 19, 2015New Routes using Boeing 777-300ER – Turkish Airlines (Istanbul to San Francisco) – Information taken from the airline’s website. Infographic created by Experience The Skies – March 19, 2015

Analysis – This routing is great for connections westbound in San Francisco with Star Alliance partner United Airlines. For eastbound, passengers can connect to Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Both United Airlines and Turkish Airlines can benefit from this flight arrangement this is the only direct non-stop flight between the two cities.

Update (April 13, 2015 – The inaugural flight landed at SFO.

TK79 Istanbul to San Francisco (first flight) – Image taken from Google.com on April 13, 2015 (All Rights Reserved)

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways announced it will replace the Boeing 777-200LR used from Hamad International Airport (DOH) to Miami International Airport (MIA) with the 777-300ER starting in May 2, 2015. This aircraft will be operated 5 times weekly initially with the plan to move to daily starting on November 18, 2015. This is increase capacity by 380 passengers initially and up to 532 passengers when the flight becomes daily. The expansion will all be in economy class as both aircrafts used have 42 business class seats.

The following infographics provide details on the flight path and facts:

New Routes using Boeing 777-300ER – Qatar Airways (Doha to Miami) – Information taken from the airline’s website. Infographic created by Experience The Skies – March 19, 2015New Routes using Boeing 777-300ER – Qatar Airways (Doha to Miami) – Information taken from the airline’s website. Infographic created by Experience The Skies – March 19, 2015

Analysis – Miami is a hub for One World alliance partner American Airlines (AA). The timing of the westbound flight is great for connection to Central / South America and US cities not served by Qatar Airways currently. Eastward provides opportunities for connections to Africa and the Middle East. This is the only direct non-stop flight between the two cities.

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) is increasing capacity from its base in Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) starting in October 1, 2015. The Boeing 777-300ER (in a three class configuration – featuring the same seats as the international version without a first class) will be flown replacing an Airbus A330 similar to what it did last year.

Using the bigger aircraft will increase capacity by 630 seats weekly (14 in business, 77 in premium economy and 539 in economy).

The following infographics provide details on the flight path and facts:

New Routes using Boeing 777-300ER – Cathay Pacific Airways (Hong Kong to Sydney) – Information taken from the airline’s website. Infographic created by Experience The Skies – March 19, 2015New Routes using Boeing 777-300ER – Cathay Pacific Airways (Hong Kong to Sydney) – Information taken from the airline’s website. Infographic created by Experience The Skies – March 19, 2015

Analysis – Currently, One World members Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) and Qantas Airways (QF) enjoy 100% of the direct non-stop market with 5 daily flights with CX operating 4 of those flights. Given there is slot restriction in place at Sydney, the other way to expand the capacity is to introduce a bigger aircraft.

Additionally, Cathay Pacific is the only Asian airline that has the most flights with premium economy product to many European and Asian destinations from Australia. CX wants to provide a seamless experience for passengers travelling between flights.

Nelson Chin, the carrier’s General Manager, South-west Pacific told the The Sydney Morning Herald recently that, “Hong Kong is a stable market for us and we fly four times a day from here so we do get the biggest [market share from Australia].

“But the growth in the market we see is beyond Hong Kong. It is very much the connectivity to the other 22 destinations we fly to.

“We don’t want someone getting on an A350 from Europe to Hong Kong and then coming down here on an A330 or a 777 and having a vastly different experience.”